Everyone bowed to the two of them.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Following Su Maowen's loud shout, everyone knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live!"

Emperor Qixuan sat on the dragon throne and raised his hand slightly, "All the ministers, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Censor Zhou was just about to step forward to report these ministers for being too cautious and absent-minded and losing manners in front of the emperor, but before he could even take a step, the emperor spoke first.

"Recently, diplomatic envoys from various countries have been in Beijing, and it is inevitable that they will meet and greet each other. Warm hospitality is one way of showing our great country's demeanor..."

As he spoke, Emperor Qixuan swept his sharp eyes over the ministers below, and then his voice became louder, with a hint of coldness in his tone.

"But you must grasp the scale!"

This sound made the ministers who attended the palace banquet last night shudder, their legs tremble, and sweat pour out.

"Your Highness obeys your order!"

Hospitality?

No, no, no, after what happened last night, they will definitely stay away from Bei Lan and the Danqi delegation next time they see them! Who wants to care about that kind of lunatic? !

Censor Zhou looked around and became even more confused.

It's getting weirder and weirder.

What is Your Majesty playing with them?

It was obviously not like this yesterday.

Did something happen at the palace banquet?

It was just a banquet to entertain envoys from other countries, it was held every year, but in the past two years he had grown old and could not endure it, nor did he want to join in the fun, so he claimed to be sick and did not come.

Did he miss something? Thinking of this, he moved to the side a little bit and asked in a low voice.

"Master Cheng, what happened at the palace banquet last night?"

Hearing this, Lord Cheng recalled the scene he saw in the side hall last night.

His face froze and he shook his head repeatedly.

"I don't know. It was too dark. I didn't hear anything."

Censor Zhou snorted lightly, then stepped back a little.

"Master Yuan, last night..."

Lord Yuan looked up at the roof.

"It was a dark and windy night last night. Censor Zhou also knows that I suffer from night blindness and was standing far away. I couldn't see clearly and I didn't hear anything."

Censor Zhou: ???

So, something happened!

He looked to the left again, "Master Lin..."

"well!"

Lord Lin rubbed his forehead with his hand and sighed before he could finish speaking.

"I've been too tired recently and have had some minor health problems. Last night I suddenly became blind and deaf. I couldn't see or hear anything."

Censor Zhou was so angry that he gnashed his teeth.

He looked around again, but the ministers around him looked evasive. There were dozens of people, but no one dared to look him in the eye.

This group of useless people are all unreliable!

After being angry, he felt a strong sense of crisis in his heart.

He felt that he was isolated!

No, they are in the Censorate, which supervises all officials and is the eyes and ears of your majesty. They should be the most informed source of news about the Great Revelation.

And today, the entire Tai'an Palace knew it, but he didn't know it? !

Just as he was scratching his head in anxiety, Su Maowen shouted.

"Retreat!"

After Emperor Qixuan left, the court officials ran out holding up the hems of their official uniforms, as if they were being chased by wolves.

This made Censor Zhou, who wanted to capture a few people for questioning, so angry that he blew his beard and stomped his feet.

Suddenly, he noticed a figure walking out slowly with a cane.

His eyes turned and he quickly took a few steps to catch up.

"Does the old master know what happened last night?"

Old Master Zhou looked at him suspiciously, "What's the matter?"

It seems that even Old Master Zhou doesn't know either.

Realizing this, Censor Zhou felt much more relieved.

Haha, I'm balanced again!

Outside the palace.

Wei Cang, who was planning to go to Tongfu Inn for a drink later, suddenly heard someone calling him.

"Master Wei, please stay!"

"Butler Su?"

Su Maowen trotted over and said, "Sir Wei, His Majesty has ordered you to go to the Imperial Study."

Wei Cang followed him in confusion.

After a cup of tea, in the imperial study.

Looking at the emperor at the top, the crown prince next to him, and the two princes.

Wei Cang rubbed his hands nervously.

Who would understand? His Majesty had just instructed in the court to stay away from envoys from other countries, and after the court session he summoned me for questioning.

So nervous.

But he did nothing. Apart from a brief meeting with the envoys from several countries at the palace banquet last night, he had never met them at any other time.

In the past few months, he went to court every day, worked at the Ministry of Works, and then returned home to rest. Sometimes even the servants in the mansion could not see him for several days, let alone strangers.

Emperor Qixuan thought for a moment and asked, "Has anyone else seen the drawings I gave you before?"

Hearing this, Wei Cang's heart rose to his throat.

Could it be that someone in the Ministry of Industry leaked the secret? He hurriedly explained.

"Your Majesty, when the flintlock rifle was made, all the parts were made separately for safety reasons. The drawings given to the craftsmen were also copied by me."

As he said this, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully.

"I can guarantee that after I got the blueprints of the flintlock rifle, no one except me has ever seen the complete structural diagram."

Hearing this, Emperor Qixuan nodded slightly.

"Get up, there's no need to be so nervous. I just suddenly remembered and asked casually."

Hearing this, Wei Cang felt a little relieved, as long as there was no leak.

After he stood up, he raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"But now the envoys of the four countries are staying in Beijing. In the battle last year, our Daqi won brilliantly. I am afraid that there are many people who covet the flintlock rifle."

As he spoke, Emperor Qixuan raised his eyes and glanced at him.

"Your Ministry of Industry is bound to become the target of those with ulterior motives."

Hearing this, Wei Cang's heart, which had just calmed down, suddenly became tense again. Cold sweat ran down his forehead and dripped from his chin to his collar.

He was fully responsible for all these matters, and he also had the blueprints in his hands...

Wouldn't that be dangerous for me? !

"Xiyue has already prepared the gunpowder. This is no longer a secret. As for the flintlock rifle..."

Emperor Qixuan moved his fingers slightly and tapped the table nonchalantly, his tone calm.

"The envoys from Danqi and Beilan came to ask for permission, saying that they wanted to experience the Lantern Festival in Daqi and stay in the capital for a longer period of time."

As he said this, he snorted coldly.

"snort!"

"They speak in such high-sounding terms, but do they really think that others can't see through their little tricks?!"

"I have also received news that someone will come to you in the near future. You must pay more attention, but remember, you must not show any alertness or abnormality..."

"ah?!"

Wei Cang let out an exclamation of disbelief, then fell to his knees with a plop, his wrinkled face filled with tears but no way out.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The blueprint is in a very safe place, hidden in the secret compartment behind my father's seat. No one will ever think of that place!"

Emperor Qixuan and his four sons: ...

"I will swear to keep the secret of the flintlock rifle to my death and never reveal a single word to anyone!"

"No!"

"What I mean is..."

Emperor Qixuan stared at him closely and said meaningfully, "You have to tell them, and tell them loud and clear, and even let them know that you have the blueprints of the flintlock rifle!"